Window sash assembly



May 21, 1957 D. M. PROSSER ,5

WINDOW SASI-I ASSEMBLY J Filed Oct. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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y 21, 1957 D. M. PROSSER 'wmnow SASH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1954 BY W 4 Aw'dowo ATTORNEYS 5/ F15 ii United States Patent WINDOW SASH ASSEMBLY Dwight M. Presser, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Peerless Balance Co., Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 26, 1954, Serial No. 464,772

11 Claims. (Cl. 20--52.2)

This invention relates to a sliding sash window and particularly to a window of the kind in which the balance mechanism for the sash element is concealed in the parting stops.

A sliding sash window of this type is disclosed in prior application Serial No. 299,967, filed July 21, 1952, by

iatilda E. Prosser and Dwight M. Prosser (Patent 2,715,747) which application is largely directed to the details of the sash balance mechanism. The invention of the present application is an improvement on that of said prior application. However, unlike the prior application, the instant application is directed not so much to the construction of the sash balance mechanism per se as to Ways and means for withdrawing the sash balance cables from the parting stops, to ways and means for attaching them to the upper and lower sash elements, and, generally, to the incorporation of this kind of parting stop in removable facings extending from end to end along the jambs and laterally across the jambs.

The present invention has for one of its objects to provide a sliding sash window in which the jamb has a removable facing of the kind above referred to which can act to guide the sash elements and Weatherstrip the window. Such a facing may be bodily movable, if desired, to permit of the ready removal of either sash element by urging it laterally toward the facing and pivoting it about its leading edge as an axis. In giving elfect to these objects of the invention, the facing is provided as hereinafter described with sash guiding ridges and, along its long edges, with beaded portions which serve to guide the facing itself when one of the sash elements is urged laterally into that position which permits of its removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable facing of the kind described having a channel-shaped recess for receiving the parting stop. Preferably, the base in such recess is depressed out of the general plane of the facing in the general direction of the jamb. By virtue of this feature of the invention, a parting stop containing one or more concealed sash balance mechanisms can be inserted in and retained within the bight in the channelshaped recess in a manner such that only an inconspicuously small portion of the parting stop projects out of the general plane of the facing in a direction opposite to that of the base of the recess, i. e., away from the jamb and toward the two sash elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide ways and means for connecting to the sash elements the proximate ends of the balance cables, the opposite ends of which are of course connected to the sash balance mechanisms in' the parting stops. It is desirable that the proximate ends of the balance cables be so attached to the sash elements that they can readily be disconnected, thus facilitating removal of the sash elements by pivoting them about their edges as already described. In giving effect to this feature of the invention, it is advantageous to carry the bal-ancecables from the parting stops to and in some instances through the check rails, attaching the ends of the cables at or in cut-away portions at the ends of the check rails, as described hereinafter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a sliding sash window incorporating the feature of the invention;

Figure 2 is a like view showing the same window as it appears after removal of the lower sash element;

Figure 3 is an elevation on a larger scale of the jamb at the left hand side of the window of Figures 1 and 2, the parting stop being omitted;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the same jamb with the parting stop in place;

Figure 5 is a like view, full length, showing the sash elements in dotted lines and, in solid lines, the balance cables with the aid of which the sash elements are balanced by mechanism concealed in the parting stop;

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal sections on an enlarged scale on lines 6-6 and 77 of Figure 2;

Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a front elevation of the bottom portion of the upper sash element and a rear elevation of the upper portion of the lower sash element, the scale being approximately the same as in Figures 3 to 5;

Figure 10 is a full size perspective of one of the brackets used in attaching the balance cables to the sash elements; and,

Figure ll, 12 and 13 are full-size front, side and top views, respectively, of a bracket of opposite hand for attaching the balance cables to the sash elements.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a window frame which is made up, among other things, of a left jamb 2 and a right jamb 3, together with appropriate cross piece at the top and bottom. Between jambs 2 and 3 are confined upper sash element 4 and lower sash element 5, each adapted for sliding movement between closed and open positions. Lower sash element 5 is balanced with the aid of a pair of metal balance cables 6 from concealed sash balance mechanisms within parting stops 8, of which there is one on each side of the window. Upper sash element 4 is similarly balanced with the aid of a pair of metal balance cables 7 from similar sash balance mechanisms, likewise concealed within the parting stops.

In each case, the parting stop is a channel-shaped element, preferably but not necessarily of sheet metal, in which the bight faces away from the sash elements and toward the jamb: see Figures 6 and 7. In the form of the invention illustrated in these and the other figures of the drawings, a facing 9, preferably of sheet metal, extends laterally across the jamb and from end to end along the jamb. Parting stops 8 are received in channel-shaped recesses in facings 9 in the manner more fully explained below.

The extent of and area covered by facings 9 will be clearly apparent from Figures 3, 4 and 5, in which the lateral limits of facings 9 coincide with the inner edges of side rails 11 and 12. The latter are conventional in location and construction, being of Wood or of any other suitable material that may conveniently be incorporated in the jamb of a window. Between side rails 11 and 12 facings 9 extend over the area a in Figures 3, 4 and 5. These figures show left jamb 2, but right jamb 3 is of course of generally similar construction. If desired, facing 9 on left jamb 2 may be moveable for purposes hereinafter brought out, but this does not usually hold true for the facing on jamb 3, which is more likely to be fixed in position.

Preferably, each of the two opposed facings 9 has two outwardly directed sash-guiding ridges 13 and 14, best seen in Figures 6 and 7. These ridges, which cooperate with suitably shaped slots in the proximate portions of the upper and lower sash elements, have Weatherstripping functions as well as sash-guiding functions. Usually, although not necessarily, ridges 13 and 14 will be formed integrally with the body portions of facing 9, being struck therefrom as facings 9 are stamped out of the stock from which they are formed. Ridges 13 and 14 of course extend away from the general plane of facings 9 toward the sash elements with which they cooperate.

Centered between ridges 13 and 14 are channels 15 running substantially the full length of the jarnb, there being one such channel in each facing 9. This channel, likewise formed integrally with the body portion of facing 9, is preferably depressed out of the general plane of the facing in a direction opposite that taken by sash-guiding ridges 13 and 14. Thus in cross section channel 15 presents the appearance shown in Figures 6 and 7, the base of the channel being on that side of the facing which adjoins the jamb.

Considered with what is shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7, a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 will reveal the manner in which parting stops 8 are accommodated in channels 15 in facings 9. From top to bottom along each of the two facings, a large part of parting stop 8 is received in channel 15, the bight in the former opposing the bight in the latter. In each case, only a fractional part of parting stop 8, not more than about one-half, projects out of channel 15. Thus parting stops 8 can be said to bridge the gaps provided by channels 15. As previously brought out, the parting stops contain the sash balance mechanisms, including spring and sheave assemblies of the kind shown, described and claimed in the previously mentioned co-pending application.

Preferably, parting stops 8 are held fast to jambs 2 and 3 by means of screws 17 passing through screw holes 16 in the base portions of channels 15: see Figures 3 and 4.

As in the previously mentioned co-pending application, the balance cables for the upper and lower sash elements are withdrawn from the parting stops through elongated slots the long axes of which parallel the longitudinal axes of the parting stops. These slots, designated 18 and 19 in the present application, appear most clearly in Figure 4, slots 18 permitting cables 6 for lower sash element to emerge from the parting stops and slots 19 permitting the cables for upper sash element 4 to emerge from the same parting stops. As will be seen in Figure 5, slots 18 and 19 are ofiset slightly from each other in a lateral direction. In a vertical direction they are offset by nearly half the length of the window, slots 18 being located near the upper ends of parting stops 8 and slots 19 being located near the middle thereof.

To keep balance cables 6 and 7 from being withdrawn into parting stops 8 after removal of sash elements 4 and 5, cables 6 and 7 are provided at their ends with stops 21 and 22 of the nature of buttons. These buttons appear in Figure 4 at the upper ends of their respective slots in cable-retracted position. Buttons 21 and 22 are provided not only to prevent cables 6 and 7 from being pulled all the way into the parting stops but also to serve as described below as means for attaching the proximate ends of the cables to the check rails on the sash elements.

For this purpose, brackets of opposite hand are provided at the ends of the check rails as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Referring first to Figure 9, a bracket 23 is shown at the left as mounted in a cut-away area 24 at the end of check rail 25 for lower sash element 5. Cable 6 is held in bracket 23 by button 21, which butts up against a horizontally extending portion of the bracket. At the opposite end of check rail 25 a bracket 23' of opposite hand is similarly mounted in a cut-away area 24 at the end of the check rail. Figure 9 being a rear elevation of the top portion of sash element 5, it will be evident that when all of the parts of the window are entirely assembled, brackets 23 and 23' will be largely concealed behind check rail 25: see Figure 1. V

At the bottom of upper sash element 4, shown in Figure 8, are two similarly formed brackets 26 and 26', each mounted in a cut-away area 27 at the end of check rail 28. As is usual in such cases, the check rail and therefore brackets 26 and 26 will ordinarily be concealed to some extent behind lower sash element 5; accordingly, no attempt needs to be made to hide brackets 26 and 26' even though they are on that face of sash element 4 which fronts toward the room. As shown in Figure 8, buttons 22 are engaged beneath horizontally extending portions of brackets 26 and 26'. It will be noted that brackets 23 and 26 are identical but reversed end for end in relation to each other and that brackets 23' and 26' likewise are identical but reversed end for end in relation to each other.

Bracket 26, shown in perspective in Figure 10, is therefore representative of all four brackets, although as compared with brackets 23 and 26' it is of course of opposite hand. It consists of an upright portion 31 provided as shown in Figure 10 with holes 32 for accommodating the screws by which the bracket is held to upper sash ele ment 4. Extending at right angles to it is a transverse portion 33, this being the part already referred to as the horizontally extending portion of the bracket. Transverse portion 33 is provided with a more or less circular open- 7 ing 34 arranged as shown in Figure 10, such opening being too small in diameter to permit button 22 on cord 7 to be pulled therethrough.

Two upright guard tangs 35, projecting upwardly as seen in Figure 10 from transverse portion 33, flank a slot 36 for passing balance cable 7 into and out of circular opening 34. For this purpose, slot 36 is made just wide enough to accommodate balance cable 7. Thus balance cable 7 and button 22 can be pulled down into a position in which button 22 is just below the level of transverse portion 33, after which the cable can be passed through slot 36. Button 22 can then be allowed to come to rest in engagement with the circular side walls of opening 34. Thereafter, the balance mechanism in parting stop 8, which includes a spring for biasing the cable toward the parting stop, serves to keep button 22 in contact with bracket 26.

The construction of bracket 26 is duplicated in bracket 23 (Figure 9) except for the previously mentioned endfor-end reversal. Thus transverse portion 33, which is below the main portion of bracket 26 as seen in Figure 8, is above the main portion of bracket 23 as seen in Figure 9. A bracket of opposite hand is illustrated in Figures 11 to 13, this being the bracket 26 at the left in Figure 8. Parts 31, 32', 33, 34, 35 and 36 correspond respectively to parts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 in bracket 26. Bracket 23' is similar to bracket 26 but reversed end for end, as a comparison of Figures 8 and 9 will reveal.

The manner in which check rail 28 at the bottom of upper sash element 4 is cut away to accommodate brackets 26 and 26 will be apparent from Figures 6 and 7, which show these brackets in plan.

Upper sash element 4 is connected by means of brackets 26 and 26' and balance cables 7 to suitable sash balance mechanisms concealed in the lower portions of parting stops 8. Inasmuch as check rail 28 on upper sash element 4, when in closed position, supports brackets 26 and 26 at the level of the middle of the window, slots 19 for balance cables 7 can advantageously be located just above the middle of the window. How this is Worked out is apparent from Figure 4, which does not show balance cable 7 but shows button 22 on cable 7 as drawn upward by the concealed sash balance mechanism into engagement with the parting stop near the upper end of slot 19. Lower sash element 5, if in closed position, must be raised to open the window; accordingly, it is convenient to connect check rail 25 on lower sash element 5, through the intervention of balance cables 6, to sash balance mechanisms concealed in the upper portion of parting stop 8,

The manner in which all of this is done will be apparent from Figures 1, 2 and 4. It will be noted from the latter figure that button 21 for balance cable 6 (not shown) is at the top of slot 18 near the top of the parting stop and that button 22 for balance cable 7 (not shown) is at the top of slot 19 near the middle of the parting stop. The concealed balance mechanism for upper sash element 4 is located as stated below the middle of the window; also, the concealed balance mechanism for lower sash element 5 is located as stated above the middle of the window. Thus it is the balance cables 6 for the lower sash element 5 that emerge from parting stops 8 near the tops of the parting stops and it is the balance cables 7 for the upper sash element 4 that emerge from parting stops 8 roughly midway between the ends of the parting stop; viz., at a level just above the middle of the window.

In removing lower sash element 5 from the window, it is moved into open position, grasped above and below by the hands, and urged bodily toward jamb 2; i. e., toward the left as this window is seen in Figure 1. Assuming that facing 9 on jamb 2 is not fixed in place but has been left moveable as hereinabove explained, lower sash element 5 can be moved for a considerable distance, perhaps half an inch, to the left. This permits its right hand end to clear the facing 9 associated with jamb 3. By pivoting lower sash element 5 about its leading end as an axis and pulling the right hand end of the sash element toward the room, the right hand end thereof may be brought into the room without interference from the window frame, after which balance cables 6 may be released by sliding the buttons at the ends thereof out of contact with the brackets 23 and 23 at the ends of check rail 25. Thereafter, lower sash element 5 is free to be cleaned, refinished, repaired, etc.

After lower sash element 5 has been removed, upper sash element 4 can be lowered to the position shown in Figure 2, after which it also may be urged to the left against moveable facing 9 on jamb 2. Like lower sash element 5, it is pivoted about its left hand end; at the same time, its right hand end is pulled toward the room. After the right hand end of upper sash element 4 has cleared jamb 3, the buttons at the ends of balance cables 7 may be released from brackets 26 and 26' at the ends of check rail 28. Thereafter, the upper sash element, like the lower sash element, is ready for cleaning, refinishing or repair.

Mention has been made of the fact that facing 9 associated with jamb 2, seen at the left in Figures 1 and 2, may be left moveable, if so desired. If this is done as hereinabove explained, it is unnecessary that the facing 9 associated with jamb 3 be left moveable. For the purpose of blocking movement of the facing 9 associated with jamb 3, blocks 40 and 41 may be interposed between the jamb and the facing in the manner shown in Figure 7. Screws 42 and 43 hold blocks 40 and 41 in position against movement. To give a finished appearance to facing 9, its edges are beaded as at 44 and 45, such beading serving inter alia to conceal the corners of blocks 40 and 41.

In the case of the facing 9 shown at the left in Figures 1 and 2 and also in Figure 6, there are voids 46 and 47 where blocks 40 and 41 appear in Figure 7 behind the facing 9 on the opposite side of the window; accordingly, there is nothing except jamb 2 to stop inward movement of the facing. lamb 2 is provided with a central void 48 as shown in Figure 6 to accommodate channel 15 in facing 9; otherwise, channel 15 would butt up against jamb 2 and restrict inward movement of facing 9. Springs 49 and 50, respectively held in place by screws 51 and 52, cushion the inward movement of facing 9, such movement being guided by the beaded portions 44 and 45 at the lateral edges of the facing.

Facing 9 thus has several functions, only one of which is that of Weatherstripping the window. A second is that of guiding the upper and lower sash elements, which is accomplished by having ridges 13 and 14 project into slots in the proximate portions of the sash elements. A third is to provide the necessary freedom of movement to permit the adjacent portions of the upper and lower sash elements to be urged to the left and pivoted about their leading edges in the manner described. In the construction illustrated in Figure 6, there is enough flexibility and clearance in the facing and parting stops, both of which preferably are made of aluminum, light weight steel or other suitable sheet metal, to permit the desired action to take place.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

I claim:

1. A window structure having upper and lower sash elements; jambs flanking the sash elements; facings for the jambs, said facings extending from end to end along the jambs and laterally across the jambs; parting stop channels in said facings; parting stops in said parting stop channels; balance systems for the sash elements in said parting stops; cables associated with said balance systems; means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from said parting stops at points near the upper ends of said parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper sash element from said parting stops at points near the middle of said parting stops; a check rail at the top of the lower sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereof permitting the cables from the upper ends of the parting stops to pass through said check rail; a check rail in the bottom of the upper sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereof permitting the cables from the middle of the parting stops to pass through said check rail; and, attached to the portions of said check rails adjoining said cut-away portions, means for securing the ends of the cables.

2. A window structure having upper and lower sash elements; jambs flanking the sash elements; facings for the jambs, said facings extending from end to end along the jambs and laterally across the jambs; parting stop channels in said facings; parting stops in said parting stop channels; balance systems for the sash elements in said parting stops; cables associated with said balance systems; means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from said parting stops at points near the upper ends of said parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper sash element from said parting stops at points near the middle of said parting stops; a check rail at the bottom of the upper sash element; a check rail at the top of the lower sash element; and means for securing the ends of the cables to the ends of the check rails for the respective sash elements.

3. A window structure having upper and lower sash elements; jambs flanking the sash elements; facings for the jambs, said facings extending from end to end along the jambs and laterally across the jambs; parting stop channels in said facings; parting stops in said parting stop channels; balance systems for the sash elements in said parting stops; cables associated with said balance systems; means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from said parting stops at points near the upper ends of said parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper sash element from said parting stops at points near the middle of said parting stops; and means for securing the ends of the cables to the upper and lower sash elements.

4. In a window structure having upper and lower sash elements, parting stops between the sash elements, and balance systems for the upper sash element in the lower portions of the parting stops and the balance systems for the lower sash element in the upper portions of the parting stops, each balance system being provided with its own cable, the combination comprising means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from the parting stops at points near the upper ends of the parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper arcane? sash element from the parting stops at points near the middle of the parting stops; a check rail at the top of the lower .sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereofpermitting the cables from the upper ends of the parting stops to pass through said check rail; a check rail at the bottom of the upper sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereof permitting the cables from the middle of the parting stops to pass through said check rail; and, attached to portions of said check rails adjoining said cut-away portions, means securing the ends of the cables.

5. A window structure as in claim 4 in which the means securing the ends of the cables comprise brackets positioned withinthe cut-away portions of the check rails.

' 6. A window structure as in claim 5 in which the brackets have hook-like portions engaging buttons on the ends of the cables.

7. In a Window structure, a sheet metal facing for the jamb, said sheet metal facing extending from end to end along the jamb and laterally across the jamb; sash-guiding ridges on the exposed face of said sheet metal facing; a hollow channel in said sheet metal facing between said sash-guiding ridges, the hollow in said channel facing away from the jamb; and, along each of the long edges of said sheet metal facing, a jamb-contacting head.

8. A sheet metal facing as in claim 7 in which the base of 'the channel is depressed toward the jamb out of the general plane of said sheet metal facing.

9. A sheet metal facing as in claim 7 in which the channel is fQrmed-integrahy with the main portion of channels in said jambs; parting stops in said parting stop channels; sash balance systems in said parting stops; cables associated with said balance systems; means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from said parting stops at points near the upper ends of said parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper sash element from said parting stops at points near the middle of said parting stops; and means for detachably securing the ends of the cables to the upper and lower sash elements.

11. A window structure having upper and lower sash elements; jambs flanking the sash elements; parting stop channels in said jambs; parting stops in said parting stop channels, sash balance systems in said parting stops; cables associated with said balance systems; means for withdrawing the cables for the lower sash element from said parting stops; means for withdrawing the cables for the upper sash element from said parting stops; a check rail at the top of the lower sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereof; a check rail in the bottom of the upper sash element having cut-away portions at the ends thereof; and, in said cut-away portions, means for detachably securing the ends of the cables to the upper and lower sash elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain July 16, 1931 

